Local woman pleads guilty in sex ring

NORWALK — A Norwalk woman is among eight people who recently pleaded guilty to multiple felonies for their role in a Mahoning Valley human trafficking sex ring. State investigators said the group operated a human trafficking ring that forced women into prostitution at two illicit massage parlors in Warren: the Tiger Spa and Sunny Spa, according to a news release from the Ohio Attorney General's Office. In March 2023, the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office and the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, along with other partnering agencies, executed search warrants as part of what's known as Operation Saving Daylight, during which investigators seized large amounts of cash, business records and financial assets, the release states. As part of their plea agreements, the eight defendants had to forfeit over $676,500 in seized funds. The following eight people pleaded guilty to the following charges: • Miock Dong Schaffer, also known as "Cookie," 57, of Norwalk, pleaded guilty to three counts of money laundering, each a fifth-degree felony; one count of promoting prostitution and one count of attempted money laundering, both fourth-degree felonies. • Chang Mi Hwang, also known as "Cherry," 60, of Duluth, Georgia, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing criminal tools, each a fifth-degree felony. • Tae Suk Hwang, also known as "Jeannie," 63, of Saginaw, Michigan, pleaded guilty to three counts of attempting to promote prostitution and three counts of possessing criminal tools, each a fifth-degree felony; one count of attempted money laundering, a fourth-degree felony; one count of obstruction of justice, a third-degree felony; and one count of engaging in prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor. • Young Sug Kim, also known as "Young Crazy," 62, of New Waterford, Ohio, pleaded guilty to one count of obstructing justice, a third-degree felony; one count of attempting to obstruct justice, a fourth-degree felony; and one count of possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony. • Charles McGill, 69, of Warren, Ohio, pleaded guilty to three counts of promoting prostitution, two counts of attempted money laundering and one count of attempting to compel prostitution, each a fourth-degree felony; and one count of obstructing justice, a fifth-degree felony. • Dong Meliodon, also known as "Sara," 63, of Duluth, Georgia, pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing criminal tools and two counts of attempting to promote prostitution, each a fifth-degree felony; and one count of attempted money laundering, a fourth-degree felony. • Sunny Oh, 68, of Palisades Park, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing criminal tools, each a fifth-degree felony; one count of attempting to obstruct justice, a fourth-degree felony; and one count of money laundering, a third-degree felony. • Young Hee Yoon, 57, of Warren, Ohio, pleaded guilty to four counts of promoting prostitution and four counts of attempted money laundering, each a fourth-degree felony; and one count of possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony. Sentencing is scheduled for March 17, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's special prosecutions section is prosecuting the cases in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. Two additional defendants, Kum Cha Shugars and Suk Hui Starr, currently have pending cases related to this investigation. The release did not list their ages or cities of residence.